Iraq constitution delay decision left to last minute

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/GRA749053.htm

Iraq constitution delay decision left to last minute

BAGHDAD, July 27 (Reuters) - The committee writing Iraq's new constitution will leave the decision of whether to call for a six-month delay until the last minute: Monday's deadline of Aug. 1, the committee chairman said on Wednesday.

If a six-month delay is requested it would mean elections scheduled for the end of the year would also have to be put off for six months -- until after a constitution is drafted by February and approved in a referendum next year.

"On Monday there will be a meeting and we will decide whether to extend or not," Humam Hamoudi told a briefing.

The document is due by Aug. 15, but Aug. 1 is the deadline to declare an extension if one is needed.

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Why can't they just give themselves another month to write the Constitution, it isn't due to be voted on until the middle of October.

Given the fact that Iraq was a British invention in the 1920s it would make the most sense to get rid of it altogether.